M1 carbine lore

Guns Magazine, July, 2009 by Richard Carlton

I carried the M1 carbine when I was in the Navy (1959-1962) and it is a great little gun. I liked it so much I purchased a few (Winchester, Quality Hardware and a shooter). If you're going to purchase one, do your homework. I recommend you purchase two books, U.S. M1 Carbine Wartime Production by Craig Riesch and The Carbine Owner's Guide by Larry Ruth with Scott A. Duff.

These books will tell you all the manufacturers, corresponding serial numbers and the correct markings for their parts. Because the 6 million guns out there have been worked over by so many people it's hard to tell if it's original. The CMP sells carbines given back by Italy and other countries the US lent them to. There are also a lot of fakes out there. You really have to know your stuff or you might wind up overpaying.

Richard Carlton

Stoughton, Mass.